Fear is deffo the key. I have been low carbing for a year now and stick to it pretty well most of the time, but was gutted at my last eye check to be diagnosed with background retinopathy. My grandmother and great grandmother (both diabetics) were both completely blind when they died, so I have to say I am pretty blooming frightened.
The complications/side effects of diabetes are horrifying - blindness, kidney failure, amputations, strokes, heart attacks ... really, really don't go there, you can take control and change your life, start now, its in your hands.